Despite drought, Odisha procures 41.69 lakh tonnes of paddy

Bhubaneswar, April 20 (IANS) Odisha has procured 41.69 lakh tonnes of paddy during this year’s kharif season, an increase of four percent against last year, even though the state was facing a severe drought.

The government has targeted procuring 10.29 lakh tonnes of paddy in the rabi season.

“In the kharif season, 41.69 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured, which is around 4 percent higher than the corresponding period in the previous season. We are targeting 7 lakh tonnes of rice in the Rabi season. If the need arises, the target will be increased,” said food supplies and consumer welfare secretary Madhusudan Padhi on Wednesday.

A review was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of chief secretary Aditya Padhi about the preparations for paddy procurement for Rabi season.

Padhi said paddy procurement for the Rabi season will begin across 19 districts in the second week of May and continue till June 30.